Improvement in feeding mechanisms for sewing-machines



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELLIOTT I). WEST, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

Specification forming 'part of Letters Patent No. 116,779, dated July 4, 1871.

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELLIOTT P. WEST, of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Feed-Regulator for Sewing-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference bein g had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to afford a convenience for varying the feed-motion of sewingmachines, and so varyin or regulating the length of stitch while the machine is in operation without removing either hand from the work, more especially to provide for the uniform regulation of the length of stitch in sewing curved seams, or in braiding or embroidcrin g in curved ii gures, when the general tendency of the reed-motion is to produce a variation of the length of stitch in turningI the corners. The invention consists in a feed-regulator operating in lieu thereof through an opening in the cloth-table or bed of the sewing-machine in such manner as to be capable of more or less depression for the purpose of varying or regulating the feed by one of the hands of the operator, which is employed above the said plate in guiding the work.

Figure 1 in the drawing exhibits a vertical section of the cloth-bed of a sewing-machine in a plane parallel with the line of operation of the feed motion, showing a side view of the feeding mechanism and a section of the feed-regulator. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan of the feed-regulator.

Similar letters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in both figures.

The drawing' illustrates the application of the invention to a wheel-feed; but it is applicable to other kinds of feeds.

A is the cloth-bed. B is the feed-wheel; C, its operating-lever; D D, the friction-clamps, E, the feed-cam; and F, the spring by which the lever is returned after the action of the cam. This feed mechanism being well. known needs no particular description. G is an upright spindle, having provided on one side a wedge-shaped projection, a., and constituting the principal portion of the feed-regulator. This spindle is fitted to work up and down in a guide-socket, H, which is provided with a flange, H', through which it is screwed to the under side of the bed A in such position that the projection a, protruding through furnished at its upper end with a broad buttonlike head, G', which is presented through an opening, g, in the bed A, and which projects above the upper surface of the latter. Under this head a stop-screw, la, is screwed through the flange H', to serve as a stop to regulate the distance to which the spindle can be depressed. The spindle G may be depressed by the operator pressing on its head G with one hand, which is upon the cloth-bed, or by means of a treadle connected with a hook, j, on its lower end, and according as it is more or less depressed a more or less prominent portion ofthe projection a is presented opposite the screw bin the feed-lever, and the movement of the said lever is more or less restricted, and the feed-movement is lesser or greater. The operation of the regulator by the action of the hand upon the head G of the spindle is in no way interfered with by a large piece of work, as when the work covers the head G as the said head can just as well be depressed by the pressure of the hand on the portion of the work passing over it 5 and it will be seen that the regulator may be operated by either hand while that hand is employed in directing the work.

This feed-regulator can just as well be employed with a reciprocating' as with a rotary feed. When applied to the former it is arranged to act as a stop to the backward movement of the feed-bar.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The feed-regulating mechanism, substantially as herein described, when a-rran ged in connection with an opcnin g in the cloth-bed, whereby it can be operated by pressure to vary the feed, as herein set forth.

ELLIOTT I). WEST. Witnesses:

FRED HAYNEs, JOHN J. SIBLEY. 

